Watermarks and how best to view them

Ryan, do you know how to solder wires? If so, I can send you the list of parts, and write up the instructions, to modify the T1 with an LED that changes colors by remote. I can see the watermarks of the worst stamps with that easily, sitting right next to a 300 watt, 6500K (daylight) light bulb in my lamp, which is extremely bright. You just change the colors with the remote until the watermark shows. Just let me know. Thanks, Mike.

My Dad would always fuss at me about avoiding cold solder joints - heating only the solder but not the wire.  So I always tried to spend enough time to get everything hot enough, and usually had a big pile of splatters at my feet from flinging globs of melted solder out of the way.  They clean up fine on the concrete floor of the shop - I doubt I'd get them out of my carpeting here at home, though ....

Well, that would certainly be a fine thing.  If it's easy enough for you to do, then you can find my address in the forum's list.  Thanks very much!

Ryan

Since I was having trouble with finding watermarks on some stamps, I decided to purchase a watermark detector.  There was a seller in Canada with a competitive price.

If you are not familiar with specific watermarks, it can be a challenge to spot on difficult specimens due cancels, color, front print details, etc. It can take a while to spot them. The advantage is there is no need to refresh watermark fluid for extended viewing. For some difficult Cayman Island stamps, it worked where it was near impossible for me to see with fluid.

It worked best in a darkened room.

Great buy, the Sherlock has lights of different colors for better identification, I think it is the top of the range.  It will give you a lot of satisfaction, congratulations.

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this but I can't seem to find an equipment section. On my introduction post I mentioned that I was getting a damaged Signoscope T1 which was bought from Ebay. It arrived this morning and I've been working on it since. The problem was that the lower platform has a pad on it which presses up against the glass to add tension. The pad is glues with some sort of cloth double sided tape. This had gone sticky and leeched out firmly bonding the glass cube to everything. I released it with some lighter fluid and cleaned all the sticky residue off. I then refixed it with double sided tape. The whole unit arrived disassembled so I've pieced it back together. There was no bulb but I managed to find a 6.5v one and powered it from my bench supply. Hey presto it works. I've got the correct bulb on order but sadly the battery cover is missing. I will have to make a little 7v supply for it. All in all a great result and it works very well. I have included a picture of a Wilding showing the multiple crowns watermark.

Graham

Thanks for the link. I did see that thread but it was about changing the colour spectrum which seems like a very good idea. I'm having mixed results with it at the moment. I am sure that I will get used to it

Good job Graham radiocruncher
Personally I really like these tools, I find them very useful.

I read all these posts about the Signoscopes T1 and T2 and I wanted one so I went shopping online. Can't seem to find the T2, but there's a T3 out (Here's a blurb.) Anybody try it? I've usually done OK with watermarks, but 19th-century Romanians are devious. So are pre-WWI Hungarians. So was King Carol I, I suppose, but he sure liked having his picture on stamps.

I suppose I could shell out for the T1 and test out how infinite my wife's infinite patience really is. But I'm curious about the new one. And I might want to buy some food one of these days.

The Sherlock watermark detector is not perfect, but it can easily be improved. Light from above is a major problem, and you might turn of the light in the room to see the watermark. But if you make a simple 'hood' that problem is solved.

The Sherlock and fluid both have uses. Which works best depends on the stamp. The Sherlock has one advantage - unlimited viewing time. There is no need to re-wet the stamp.

I am not an expert on watermarks so takes time to spot the tell tale clues on some stamps as many stamps have imperfections or printing features that make a quick ID more difficult.

Stamps with hinges interfere with the Sherlock so may need to be removed.

I do not regret my purchase but has limitations.

I'm shopping around for a new watermark detector. I have a Signoscope 1 BUT I would like to try something with the option of different colored lights and something less bulky. Yes, I know fluid is cheap, and will still use my trusty lighter.fluid and black plastic tray. However, the government decided that since I was an essential worker during the initial period of the pandemic I'm entitled an ARPA check (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021). I like gadgets and new toys. So...I might as well splurge.

I have not decided on which one of these I want, but have listed them in the order of most wanted to least:

1. Stanley Gibbons Detectamark

2. Lighthouse Sherlock Watermark Detector

3. Signoscope T3

Let's hear some pros and cons from those that own one of these.

tobben63 Thanks for the info. I knew the Sherlock had to be screwed but was not positive about the SG. Other than having to build a light shade for yours how happy are you with your purchase? I take it you have no regrets.